i am a HUGE fan of the Portuguese Podengo and for some reason there are actually a significant number (and by that i mean i've seen about five in two years) in rescue here. i thought maybe it's because i'm so close to such a major city now and not out in the sticks of the world, comparatively. the pariahs are in my top three of types to own no matter what my boyfriend says (he is forever stuck on Frenchies, complete opposite end of the spectrum indeed!). i only worry that i could potentially be doing these dogs a disservice based on my location. that's not to say anyone who owns these dogs in a likewise cold climate is doing their dogs a disservice, but it would be very new to me to own a dog like that where the winters are so cold.
what sort of precautions do you have to take with these dogs and the cold, in general? would a sweater and jacket really be enough in -25C weather with some snow on the ground?

I don't think Amber got Cricket till she was older... I am not saying take the dog off the street at that age. Just look into rescuing one at that age so you can gauge drive etc. Same as going to a shelter. You can tell at 6 months if the dog is happy go lucky or not (regardless of socialization). A stable dog will still be a stable dog even with out socialization.

I'm not really talking about stable dogs, although effect of socialization or lack of depends on the breed and the extent of the lack of socialization. A friend of mine has a Sibe that had almost no human interaction until 4 months old and getting her was pretty much like getting a feral dog. Her parents and siblings from other breedings were not anything like her and her littermates or siblings from future breedings raised in a similar manner. You just can't make a blanket statement that a stable dog is a stable dog regardless of early experiences. It depends on the breed, the dog and the circumstances. I don't really look for happy go lucky either.

What I'm talking about is developing the puppy's brain in an ultimate way for working with humans. I believe that interactions at certain ages effect the way the brain develops and that once the time for that is gone, it's gone. That isn't to say that older puppies or adults without such interactions can't be developed into good sport dogs, it's just not "tipping the odds in your favor" as you like to talk about. To me, tipping the odds in your favor very much includes getting your puppy young and starting their training and socialization from day one (or getting an older puppy from someone who has done so). That would especially go for getting a street bred/raised dog, a kennel raised dog or other less than ideal early circumstances.

i am a HUGE fan of the Portuguese Podengo and for some reason there are actually a significant number (and by that i mean i've seen about five in two years) in rescue here. i thought maybe it's because i'm so close to such a major city now and not out in the sticks of the world, comparatively. the pariahs are in my top three of types to own no matter what my boyfriend says (he is forever stuck on Frenchies, complete opposite end of the spectrum indeed!). i only worry that i could potentially be doing these dogs a disservice based on my location. that's not to say anyone who owns these dogs in a likewise cold climate is doing their dogs a disservice, but it would be very new to me to own a dog like that where the winters are so cold.
what sort of precautions do you have to take with these dogs and the cold, in general? would a sweater and jacket really be enough in -25C weather with some snow on the ground?

Really ou have pondego's near you! I must come and visit. They are a breed I am interested in, yet have never met in real life Oh and if you get a frenchie I also want to come visit lol. I met quite a few in the states this past summer and they were hilarious. I would think they would acclimatize fairly well, and coats etc. (same as any short coated breed)

I'm not really talking about stable dogs, although effect of socialization or lack of depends on the breed and the extent of the lack of socialization.

regardless.. that was just an addition to my point. Adopting a dog that is in a foster situation would allow you to have a puppy that is well handled by people, but old enough you can tell if it will be any good for dog sports.

Its hard enough to tell when they are a known breed from dog sport lines and well socialized. Just playing puppy roulette and grabbing a random street puppy might be an exciting way to get a pet, but not the best way of picking your next dog sport partner.

Really ou have pondego's near you! I must come and visit. They are a breed I am interested in, yet have never met in real life Oh and if you get a frenchie I also want to come visit lol. I met quite a few in the states this past summer and they were hilarious. I would think they would acclimatize fairly well, and coats etc. (same as any short coated breed)

i was so surprised! i questioned it of course, but they are always identical, and most have been surrenders so i have to assume the owner told them the breed. it would be an odd one to just guess out of nowhere, and i'd assume they'd guess it as an Ibizan mix, before a Podengo, just given which is known more.

next time i see one, i may have to go and actually meet it in person. we are finally coming up on the point where we are ready for a dog. as soon as we lack roommates, i think we'll be going out into the rescue world and inquiring.

ever since moving here (and again, i have to contribute this to being near such a major city) i've increasingly seen more and more rare breeds in rescue. there was the Karelian Bear Dog that was up for adoption for two years that i fell in love with, all the Podengos, and some other breeds i just didn't expect to see in such abundance because i never saw them much where i used to live (Cane Corso is a breed i see very regularly in rescues here and i have a feeling it can be linked to the breed ban, which is about to be overturned i believe).
we also see quite a few pariah-type look alikes in the shelters here. i'm a big fan of the ones with the ears clearly too large for their heads.

Its hard enough to tell when they are a known breed from dog sport lines and well socialized. Just playing puppy roulette and grabbing a random street puppy might be an exciting way to get a pet, but not the best way of picking your next dog sport partner.

I'd personally still take my chances with a young puppy, if I decided a Mexi-dog was what I had to have Of course, I wouldn't just be taking a "random puppy". I'd look for the things I always look for when I get a puppy. To me, the early phases of puppyhood are just too important to pass up.